Core Bites: July 19

“Letters To Abigail“, Hendersonville's “home town band”, is an acoustic three piece modern day string band including songwriter, acoustic guitarist and vocalist, James Harrell; vocalist and songwriter, Kelli Redmond, and Lauren Bandy ( Country Music Hall of Fame act, Tom T. Hall and the Storytellers) on upright bass and vocals .

PHOTO PROVIDED

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 9:51 a.m.

PISGAH FOREST

Boosinger performs at Cradle of Forestry

Singer and instrumentalist Laura Boosinger will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Songcatchers Music Series at The Cradle of Forestry in America on Highway 276 in Pisgah Forest.

Boosinger interprets traditional music from the Southern mountains. She plays old-time banjo, guitar, dulcimer and finger-style autoharp, and invites audiences to participate in the region's musical heritage.

Her performances have included the Tennessee Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia, Merle-fest and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She garnered the title of Most Outstanding Performer at the oldest continuing traditional music festival in the country, Asheville's Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.

Admission for all shows is $6 for ages 16 and older; $3 for ages 15 and younger and America the Beautiful and Golden Age pass holders. Call 828-877-3130 or visit www.cradleof forestry.org for more information.

The Downtown Street Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday will feature Appalachian Fire and the Southern Connection Cloggers, with Walt Puckett as caller, at the Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St.

Appalachian Fire plays traditional bluegrass. The six-piece Hendersonville- based band is made up of Dwayne Durham, Cliff Searcy, Jim Fox, Mike Williams and Tim Francis.

They play such favorites as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," "Salt Creek," "I'll Fly Away" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

Southern Connection Cloggers are based in Hendersonville and directed by Chip Summey, a certified judge and certified clogging instructor. Bring a chair and admission is free.

At 6:30 p.m., Puckett will teach audience members some basic Appalachian square dance steps, so everyone can join in the fun.

Call 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit www.historichendersonville.org for more information.

Asheville

Theater to stage ‘Steel Magnolias'

The iconic Southern play "Steel Magnolias" opens at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St.

Written by Robert Harling as a tribute to his sister, Susan, "Steel Magnolias" has captured the hearts of audiences across the globe, but especially in the South. It premiered off-Broadway in 1987 and has been performed ever since.

"Steel Magnolias" centers on the relationships between Truvy, M'Lynn, Shelby, Annelle, Clairee and Ouiser, six Southern women in northern Louisiana.

The stage version takes place entirely in Truvy's beauty parlor. The story begins on the morning of Shelby's wedding and covers events over the next three years, including Shelby's decision to have a child despite having Type 1 diabetes and the complications that result from the decision. Each woman possesses a strength that is mirrored and upheld by the others, and their friendships are buoyed by laughter and grounded with tears.

Asheville Community Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias" is directed by Michael Lilly, who has directed many area shows over the past several decades. The play stars Cary Nichols as Truvy, Ashleigh Millet as Annelle, LaNita Cloninger as M'Lynn, Joan Atwood as Clairee, Carla Pridgen as Ouiser, and Kristen Ballard as Shelby. Creating Truvy's salon is veteran scenic designer Jack Lindsay.

The production runs through Aug. 18. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for senior citizens and students, $12 for children. Visit www.asheville theatre.org for more information.

‘Sunbonnet and Straw Hat' at courthouse

"Sunbonnet and Straw Hat," an original play by Tom E. Orr, will debut at 7 p.m. July 26 in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street.

Additional performances are scheduled for 1 and 7 p.m. July 27 and 2 p.m. July 28.

The play portrays life in Henderson County in a bygone era and also honors Green River native and nationally acclaimed author Robert Morgan. Many who are involved in the production are local people who are re-enacting events and emotions that shaped the lives of their ancestors.

As the cast members tell the stories and sing the songs of yesteryear, the audience is invited to journey back in time and gain a greater understanding of what it is that makes this such a special place.

Orr, who was assisted by Jeannie Gooch and Pam Alexander Warr, said, "This play is about celebrating and honoring our past. But I think it is important to realize that we need to do that and then move on; it isn't about living in the past. In fact, what I find so wonderful about Henderson County is how we continue to evolve. Our cast of characters here is always changing as new people move in with their various talents and abilities— contributing, enhancing, sharing."

The participants in the production include people with deep roots in the county, such as Fletch Griffith, Hilliard Staton, Mary Louise Barber and Gayle Stepp, and some first-generation Henderson County people whose love of the area and contributions to it are apparent — Ruth Birge, Rosie O'Brien and Bill O'Connor.

Proceeds from the play will benefit the Henderson County Heritage Museum, which is housed in the Historic Courthouse, and also the Henderson County Education History initiative, which researches and documents the history of early schools and the contributions of the pioneers in education here.

Tickets are available at the Heritage Museum Gift Shop at the Historic Courthouse and at the Henderson County Visitors Center, 201 S. Main St.

Tickets for the opening performance, including a catered reception in honor of Robert Morgan, are $50; other performances are $20. Call 828-694-1619 or visit hendersoncountymuseum.com for more information.

Exporium plays July 26 at Music on Main

The Music on Main Street concert will feature classic rock performed by the musical group Emporium from 7 to 9 p.m. July 26 at the Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., Hendersonville.

Emporium is a six-piece band playing classic beach music and oldies rock.

Bring a chair to the seating area, which opens after 5:30 p.m. No animals, alcoholic beverages, backpacks or coolers are allowed. Admission is free.

Call 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit www.historichendersonville.org for more information.

Letters to Abigail sets CD release party

Letters to Abigail is releasing its debut album, "Say Anything," on Tuesday, and the Flat Rock-based band will host a CD release party at 8 p.m. July 27 at Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville.

After successfully raising more than $15,000 in a 45-day Kickstarter platform, Letters to Abigail recorded its debut album at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville.

The trio called on some accomplished musicians to play on their project, including fiddle player Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers), Adam Steffey on mandolin (Alison Krauss and Union Station, Mountain Heart, the Boxcars) and pedal steel guitar player Doyle Grisham (Jimmy Buffett, Randy Travis, George Jones).

They also pulled from the talent of the region — David Holt on claw hammer banjo (Doc Watson, "Hee Haw"), John Cloyd Miller and Natalya Weinstein, mandolin and fiddle players for the band "Red June," as well as guitarist Jon Stickley (Town Mountain, Jon Stickley Trio) and Garry Segal on harmonica (Johnson's Crossroad).

For more information about the band, visit Letters to Abigail on Facebook. A music schedule and full band profile are available at reverbnation.com.

<p>PISGAH FOREST</p><p>Boosinger performs at Cradle of Forestry</p><p>Singer and instrumentalist Laura Boosinger will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Songcatchers Music Series at The Cradle of Forestry in America on Highway 276 in Pisgah Forest. </p><p>Boosinger interprets traditional music from the Southern mountains. She plays old-time banjo, guitar, dulcimer and finger-style autoharp, and invites audiences to participate in the region's musical heritage. </p><p>Her performances have included the Tennessee Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia, Merle-fest and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She garnered the title of Most Outstanding Performer at the oldest continuing traditional music festival in the country, Asheville's Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.</p><p>Admission for all shows is $6 for ages 16 and older; $3 for ages 15 and younger and America the Beautiful and Golden Age pass holders. Call 828-877-3130 or visit www.cradleof forestry.org for more information.</p><p>FLETCHER</p><p>New 5 Cents at Feed & Seed tonight</p><p>The Feed & Seed at 3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, hosts weekend shows starting at 7:30 p.m. The July schedule:</p><p>u Today: New 5 Cents</p><p>u Saturday: Phil and Gaye Johnson, 6:30 p.m.; The Neighbors, 7:30 p.m.</p><p>u July 26: Conservation Theory</p><p>u July 27: Blue Billy Grit, 7:30 p.m.</p><p>For more information, call 828-216-3492. </p><p>Street dance on Monday in Hendersonville</p><p>The Downtown Street Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday will feature Appalachian Fire and the Southern Connection Cloggers, with Walt Puckett as caller, at the Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St.</p><p>Appalachian Fire plays traditional bluegrass. The six-piece Hendersonville- based band is made up of Dwayne Durham, Cliff Searcy, Jim Fox, Mike Williams and Tim Francis. </p><p>They play such favorites as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," "Salt Creek," "I'll Fly Away" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."</p><p>Southern Connection Cloggers are based in Hendersonville and directed by Chip Summey, a certified judge and certified clogging instructor. Bring a chair and admission is free. </p><p>At 6:30 p.m., Puckett will teach audience members some basic Appalachian square dance steps, so everyone can join in the fun.</p><p>Call 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit www.historichendersonville.org for more information.</p><p>Asheville</p><p>Theater to stage 'Steel Magnolias'</p><p>The iconic Southern play "Steel Magnolias" opens at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St. </p><p>Written by Robert Harling as a tribute to his sister, Susan, "Steel Magnolias" has captured the hearts of audiences across the globe, but especially in the South. It premiered off-Broadway in 1987 and has been performed ever since. </p><p>"Steel Magnolias" centers on the relationships between Truvy, M'Lynn, Shelby, Annelle, Clairee and Ouiser, six Southern women in northern Louisiana. </p><p>The stage version takes place entirely in Truvy's beauty parlor. The story begins on the morning of Shelby's wedding and covers events over the next three years, including Shelby's decision to have a child despite having Type 1 diabetes and the complications that result from the decision. Each woman possesses a strength that is mirrored and upheld by the others, and their friendships are buoyed by laughter and grounded with tears.</p><p>Asheville Community Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias" is directed by Michael Lilly, who has directed many area shows over the past several decades. The play stars Cary Nichols as Truvy, Ashleigh Millet as Annelle, LaNita Cloninger as M'Lynn, Joan Atwood as Clairee, Carla Pridgen as Ouiser, and Kristen Ballard as Shelby. Creating Truvy's salon is veteran scenic designer Jack Lindsay. </p><p>The production runs through Aug. 18. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for senior citizens and students, $12 for children. Visit www.asheville theatre.org for more information.</p><p>'Sunbonnet and Straw Hat' at courthouse</p><p>"Sunbonnet and Straw Hat," an original play by Tom E. Orr, will debut at 7 p.m. July 26 in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. </p><p>Additional performances are scheduled for 1 and 7 p.m. July 27 and 2 p.m. July 28. </p><p>The play portrays life in Henderson County in a bygone era and also honors Green River native and nationally acclaimed author Robert Morgan. Many who are involved in the production are local people who are re-enacting events and emotions that shaped the lives of their ancestors. </p><p>As the cast members tell the stories and sing the songs of yesteryear, the audience is invited to journey back in time and gain a greater understanding of what it is that makes this such a special place.</p><p>Orr, who was assisted by Jeannie Gooch and Pam Alexander Warr, said, "This play is about celebrating and honoring our past. But I think it is important to realize that we need to do that and then move on; it isn't about living in the past. In fact, what I find so wonderful about Henderson County is how we continue to evolve. Our cast of characters here is always changing as new people move in with their various talents and abilities— contributing, enhancing, sharing."</p><p>The participants in the production include people with deep roots in the county, such as Fletch Griffith, Hilliard Staton, Mary Louise Barber and Gayle Stepp, and some first-generation Henderson County people whose love of the area and contributions to it are apparent — Ruth Birge, Rosie O'Brien and Bill O'Connor.</p><p>Proceeds from the play will benefit the Henderson County Heritage Museum, which is housed in the Historic Courthouse, and also the Henderson County Education History initiative, which researches and documents the history of early schools and the contributions of the pioneers in education here. </p><p>Tickets are available at the Heritage Museum Gift Shop at the Historic Courthouse and at the Henderson County Visitors Center, 201 S. Main St. </p><p>Tickets for the opening performance, including a catered reception in honor of Robert Morgan, are $50; other performances are $20. Call 828-694-1619 or visit hendersoncountymuseum.com for more information.</p><p>Exporium plays July 26 at Music on Main</p><p>The Music on Main Street concert will feature classic rock performed by the musical group Emporium from 7 to 9 p.m. July 26 at the Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., Hendersonville. </p><p>Emporium is a six-piece band playing classic beach music and oldies rock. </p><p>Bring a chair to the seating area, which opens after 5:30 p.m. No animals, alcoholic beverages, backpacks or coolers are allowed. Admission is free.</p><p>Call 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit www.historichendersonville.org for more information. </p><p>Letters to Abigail sets CD release party</p><p>Letters to Abigail is releasing its debut album, "Say Anything," on Tuesday, and the Flat Rock-based band will host a CD release party at 8 p.m. July 27 at Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville. </p><p>After successfully raising more than $15,000 in a 45-day Kickstarter platform, Letters to Abigail recorded its debut album at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville.</p><p>The trio called on some accomplished musicians to play on their project, including fiddle player Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers), Adam Steffey on mandolin (Alison Krauss and Union Station, Mountain Heart, the Boxcars) and pedal steel guitar player Doyle Grisham (Jimmy Buffett, Randy Travis, George Jones).</p><p>They also pulled from the talent of the region — David Holt on claw hammer banjo (Doc Watson, "Hee Haw"), John Cloyd Miller and Natalya Weinstein, mandolin and fiddle players for the band "Red June," as well as guitarist Jon Stickley (Town Mountain, Jon Stickley Trio) and Garry Segal on harmonica (Johnson's Crossroad).</p><p>For more information about the band, visit Letters to Abigail on Facebook. A music schedule and full band profile are available at reverbnation.com.</p>